Patternicity
“Patternicity” is a term coined by Michael Shermer (editor of Skeptic
Magazine) to explain our innate pattern-seeking nature. He argues that
evolution has primed our brains to see patterns where none exist. In the paper “The
Evolution of Superstitious and Superstition-like Behaviour” in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B,
Harvard University biologist Kevin R. Foster and University of Helsinki
biologist Hanna Kokko tested his theory through complex evolutionary modeling. They
concluded:
“The inability of individuals—human or otherwise—to assign causal
probabilities to all sets of events that occur around them will often force
them to lump causal associations with non-causal ones. From here, the
evolutionary rationale for superstition is clear: natural selection will favour
strategies that make many incorrect causal associations in order to establish
those that are essential for survival and reproduction.”
For example, if our ancient ancestor heard a rustling in a nearby bush,
it was always safer to assume it was a dangerous predator, rather than to
believe it was anything more benign. Simply put, sometimes it’s advantageous to
perceive things that aren’t there.
As previously mentioned, patternicity is not unique to humans, and
neither is superstition. In a now famous experiment, renowned Behavioral
Psychologist B.F. Skinner was able to elicit behaviors in pigeons akin to those
performed by humans in religious rituals. In many of Skinner’s other
experiments, he would attempt to train animals to perform various behaviors by
giving them food as a reward whenever they performed the behaviors correctly. In
this experiment, he had no specific behaviors to teach the pigeons. Instead, he
simply gave them food at regular (e.g. 15 second) time intervals. The effect:
the pigeons tended to repeat whatever they recall themselves doing before the
last time they were given food[1].
They would nod their head, flap their wings, turn counterclockwise, and perform
other actions over and over again until they were fed again. As Skinner put it:
“The experiment might be said to demonstrate a sort of superstition.
The bird behaves as if there were a causal relation between its behavior and
the presentation of food, although such a relation is lacking. There are many
analogies in human behavior. Rituals for changing one’s luck at cards are good
examples. A few accidental connections between a ritual and favorable
consequences suffice to set up and maintain the behavior in spite of many
unreinforced instances.” [2]
Is this so different from believing that every time you pray, something
good happens? To me, the only major difference is that, in humans, these sort
of “accidental connections” lead to very complex systems of belief reinforced
and adapted through years of cultural evolution.
The Evolution of Persistent
Beliefs
Now, let’s say a visiting trader from a faraway land noticed these
dances usually didn’t lead to rain. He decided to document the success rate,
and shared the negative results with the local populace. Despite the evidence,
no one would be convinced that rain dancing didn’t work. Why? Well, one
evolutionary explanation is that of Cultural Cognition[3].
Recall from my last post that humans evolved to possess pro-group behaviors. One
of these behaviors is the tendency to view the world through the lens of one’s
culture, and to see all challenges to the beliefs of one’s culture as a threat.
Thus, as an innate response to these threats, people entrench their minds against
even the most rational of ideas or definitive evidence. In evolutionary terms, this show of solidarity
strengthens the group, and thus the likelihood that its members will survive to
pass on their genes. In the modern context, this leads to climate change
deniers, creationism, faith healing fatalities, and other unfortunate behaviors
and beliefs.
Like other animals, humans are prone to perceiving patterns that do not
exist, and we alter our behaviors in quite strange and irrational ways due to
our beliefs in the imaginary. For pigeons, this tendency may lead to bobbing
heads and flapping wings. For humans, our beliefs become solidified by our
innate desire to conform to our peer groups. Unfortunately, this leads many to
stay silent when rational voices are most needed: when human lives are at stake.
Resources:
Michael Shermer on Patternicity:
Great Article on
Cognitive Dissonance and Cultural Cognition
love the elements card!
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